Day 78 - Breakfast on Quijote; Rod

Morning is a favorite time; it's calm, peaceful, introspective. Sea birds pass by; the tips of their wings tap the glassy surface of the water leaving a line of expanding rings. Cloud puffs traverse the forested hillsides along the passages. Bright silver threads of sunlight wander through the overcast as the morning matures. We're surrounded by rippled reflections of hills and sky. A crisp morning breeze created by our motion caresses our skin and chills the fingers, compelling us to zip up jackets and put hands in pockets. The smooth hum of the engine pushes us onward as the dinghy rustling and slapping, endeavors to keep up.

Tina digs fruit out of the cooler for breakfast. Kay studies the day's chart leading to Punchbowl Cove in Misty Fjords National Monument. Sue, Tom and I watch the water ahead for hazards, warming our hands on tea mugs. The crew is quiet and reflective.

Breakfasts on board Quijote are occasionally elaborate - eggs, or pancakes - but for the most part they are simple, consisting of oats, cream of wheat, or Kay's home made granola. We pile on a lot of fruit, usually some combination of apples, peaches, or berries. We'll add raisins or dried cranberries, sprinkle on walnuts, pecans, or pumpkin seeds. Some of us will sweeten the concoction with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup and top it all off with a large dollop of creamy Greek yogurt. Mingled with taste buds on a pristine morning in Southeast Alaska and it's a perfect way to start the day.

Photos by Sue